Outlet mounting



Nov. 23, 1943- c. J. THQMPsQQ 2,334,799

OUTLET MOUNTING Filed Feb. 6. 1940 2 Sheets-Sheet l a N u Nov. 23,19543.

OUTLET MOUNTING Filed Feb; 6, 1940 2' Sheets-Sheet 2 c. J. THOMPSON334,799

Patented Nov. 23, 1943 r Thompson, Washington, D 0.

[Application Febru'aryfi, 1940, Serial "No. 317,515; o s

This invention relates'to outlet mountings and has for its -principalobject the provision of a simple and eflicient clasp for, mounting and:hold-' ing electric "outlet boxes of any types; being particularlyadvantageouswhen'the box is to he I installed in a finished wallorqoeilingfi" A'further object of the inventionis to provide afirm clampwhich is easy to install in the usual styles ofwalls andfceilings, suchas lath and plaster, plaster board, ply wood, metal laths, etc., andwhich will hold aswitch box without'jarring or Figure 'Tis aview ofamodifie d blank.

Figurefi isa section thru the blank of Fi '7'. In Figure 1 the outletbox H1 is secured to the armored cable ll asby the usual cable clamp 1?.

vibration, thus avoiding the common "fault of outlet fixtures, that is,loosening 'oftheaplaster by reason of the resilicncebf the box itselfwhen the switch is moved.

At the present time the most usual-method of installing anfoutlet box istoscrew the box directly to the lathsbu't this is-unsatisfactory becausethe laths'are yielding and the box 'soon becomes loosened causing theplaster to fall away and the wires l3 are secured asat M to the fixture,here shown as a switch box having a porcelain body l5 and aswitch-handle i 6. The box is secured to its brackets H as by the screwslS extending verticallya nd the horizontal screws -19 which secure the 1brackets to the mountings.

The metal screws in the methods previously described are replaced bywood screws l9 which extend into the lathsk .The "clamp forming theprincipal portion of the mounting includes a front plate 20, a facing-platefll; which forms; a reinforcing casing around the hole, makingthe outlet unsightly even though a fairly largecov'erplate is used.Sometimes" an excellent job is-provided'by removing parts of thewall andnailing strips to the studding. While this method insures a neat job itconsumes a great'deal of timeand often involves repapering andreplastering. The mounting of the present invention eliminates this lossof time and the extrajexpense and in addition permits the installationof an outlet box in a plaster board wall which is not possible witheither of-the older methods.

Briefly, my mountingconsists of apair'of flexvise-like grip so'thattheoutlet box and its bracket and the mounting arejsecured together in aible clamps which are securedto the wall by a rigidly held assembly.Perforations through'the metal of the clamp or other means:for'weakening the clamp blank transversely" permit thetwo ends of theblank of the mounting being held parallel to one another for convenientreception of screws or other meanswhich bindthernounting to the wall bydrawing the wall engaging ends to ether. I In the d'raw'ingst Figure Usa vertical section showing the clamp and the outlet boxin place in awall'opening;

Figure 2-is a front elevation.

Figure 3 is a top plan view. 1 t Figure '4 is a perspective of a clampwith its screws. 9

Figure 5'is a plan of the blank beforebending.

Figure Bis a bottom planview of my mounting'when used with around 'oroctagon box installed in'a ceiling. r t

Iforthe top and bottomends of the hole 'irfthe wall, a rear slopingportionzz, acurved portion 23 and. a backing portion 24 all of theseportions being integral in the, preferred construction which is madefrom a sheet metal blank which affords maximum surface engagement withthe wall and the opening and maybe of reasonably heavy gauge rust-proofmaterial.

The blank itself is shown in Figurefi from which it will be seen thatthe front portion'zil is provided with two lateral ears26 which extendon both sides of the opening. This front portion is provided with a'pairof holes 2! to receive the holding screws iii fairly snugly; Anelongated perforation 3i extends partly through the front end portion 29and partlyf'through the facing portion 2 I, itspurpose being toprovideclearance for the usual screw 32 which holds the cover plate ofthe box in place and covers the holding means as well as the box. Therear portion 22,.as sharply at both sides asiat 33, thus making thebacking portion M the widest part of the blank.

The holes fi l the backingportion are tapped for threaded'engagementwiththe screws 7 which extend very loosely throughithe holes35 just beyond the facing portion of the blank. Between'these linesjofholes are the holes 36 the purpose of which is to weaken the blank so asto varythe. angle. between the backing portion 2-4 andlthe rear portion22 in order tp'permit the endse'ctions and 2 to remain parallel eventhough the "walls should vary appreciably in thickness as is illustratedin Figure'l.

' In the installing of an outlet fixture with mountings the hole in thewall is cut'in the usual manner exceptthat it is possible to make thehole a little more snug from side to side. Care should be taken to keepthe hole as square as will be noted, slopes 1 resulting from the use ofmy mounting, for example, the facing portion 2| of the clamp covers orfaces the entire top or bottom end of the hole and if these are cutsquarely the contact will be better. The armored cable II is drawnthrough box as at l2. in the ends of the hole and bent to the proper ale. b a kets I! at each. nd. of. the e trical outlet box are reversedfrom their usual position and when the box is returned to place theholes in the brackets are alined with the two holes in the clamps. arepreferably of high quality steel cadmium plated have auger points todrill easily and quickly through the material of the wall. These, wheninserted in the holes 2'! arekept square to;

the work, that is, parallel to the top and bottom of the walls of thebox so they will enter the threaded. holes 34? n the backing portion orplate and thus draw the front plate and the backing platetogether thescrflwsyare tightened and this is true-even. though theldepth of thewall may vary within. .a considerable ran e, s th ounded por on 2 hav nge ei the three holes 36; yields readily to-give the desired paralclipwhich in turn is secured to the front portion it-of the dam Th c i a ts-t e the l c of the bracket ll.-

In the modified for-m shownin Figures 7 and 8 the clip the, same Outsidemargins butthe hole 3i replaced by a larger opening 3] surrounding thecentral screw 3.2 which extends through a lug from the box and also thruthe holding means or bridge to which the porcelain body [5 is secured.By adding the are clearance is allowedfor the lug of the box and thispermits the clip to touch the box lip and also the bracket I l. Theholes 41. are for clearance of the screws H} which secure the box to itsbrackets H. In place of the holes 35 and the central hole 3,6 theopening 49 is provided having a curved edge 50 to allow a clearance forconduit or a Bx connector when'a shallow box is used as issometimesconvenien-t.

l. A alarm: for holding an outlet box in a wall, comprising an integralmember having a front portion to engage one side elf a walla backingportion to engage the other side of said wall, a facing portion toengage and protect one'face of the opening in said; wall, and afourthportion joining the facing portion and one of the wall engagingportions, forming acute angles therej with, two of said portions havingopenings therethrough to receive holding means.

2.- A clamp for-holding an outlet box in ,a wall opening comprising anintegral member having two parallel wall-engaging .endportions and anintermediate portion of two legs forming an acute angle, saidintermediate portion forming an acute angle with one of said endportions, each of said portions having a hole jth rethroueh o eceive asc ew to draw the 'the wall in the usual way and is secured to the 1 Thetwo clamps are now inserted parallel portions together, one of saidholes being threaded to engage the screw.

3. A clamp to secure a switch box in a wall opening, comprising anintegral member having its ends parallel to engage opposite sides of thewall, and a V-shaped portionjoining said ends, one side of the V joiningthe outside end at substantially a right angle to engage snugly the wallopening and the other leg joining the insideend at an acute angle havinga rounded vertex, said other leg'and bothof said ends of the integralmember each having a hole there- 7, through to receive a headed screw todraw the The long screws l9 which sa in no tions, resilien m n nin ai pparallel portions together, one of said holes be- I ing threaded toengage the screw. v I

4. Amounting for holding an outlet box in a wall opening, comprising twoparallel wall ontions so as to hold the portions parallel althoughclamping walls of different thicknesses, and

fastening means for drawing thezparallel por tions together.

5. The device of claim the wall when the outlet box is clamped in place,thus avoiding injury to the face of theopening,

.6. A clamp including a facing portion to en-' tions together, saidresilient means including a curved portion having perforations thereinto weaken it along the line of bending to make the wall engagingportions parallel.

8. A mounting for holding an outlet box in a wall opening, comprisingtwo wall engaging portions, resilient means joining said portions so asto hold the portions parallel although clamping walls of differentthicknesses, andfastening means for drawing the parallel por tionstogether, said resilient means including a facing portionforming acasing for one end of the wall opening, and a curved portion hav-l f ingperforations therein to weaken it along the line of bending to. make thewall engaging poritions parallel,

9. Amounting for holding an outlet box in a wall opening, comprising twowallengaging portions, resilient means joining said portions so as tohold-the portions parallel although clamping wallsof "differentthicknesses, and fastening means for drawing the parallel portionstogether, said resilient means including a slottedfacing portion forminga casing for one end of the, Wall opening and the slot therein 7 servingto receive a, cover plate screw", i

10. A clamp servingas one of a pair of mountlo to h d a le boxn a e eally e tangular opening cut in a wall to receive such an outlet box,comprising-ya memberhaving a nt'p rti n t nga e the ir nt fa e o the Waadja nt s o e insf aackins portion spaced from the front portion so thatitp' ay 4.1 h c the r s ient J e s i u a f c n p ti n xt ormi s a 0 1 s.f r ne. end, o h l openin anclth fastening means is a screwpassingthroughthe wall itself and therefore entirely surrounded-by} engage therear side of the wall, a faoing' therewith, two of said portions havingopenings" the backing portion, forming acute anglestherethrough, wherebya holding means may be passed through both openings and when tightenedwill draw together the front portion and the back portion to clamp thewall between them.

CLIFFORD J. THOMPSON.

